Politics, current events and the failures of the mainstream news media.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

The sanctimonious railroading of Joe Paterno

If there is one thing we have come to expect from the press its that when it comes to almost any big story they will miss what's important and what matters in place of those who will seize the opportunity for their own self-serving, sanctimonious, self-righteous reasons to try and make a name for themselves.

That is exactly what is going on now with the phony moralistic and imbecilic calls by factually challenged sportswriters and other journalists, not exactly known for their ability to think in the first place, for Joe Paterno the coach of Penn State football, to resign or be fired over a child abuse scandal involving a former defensive coach at Penn State.

The fact that, based on all the facts presently known, Paterno did nothing wrong, not in any imaginable way, doesn't stop the sanctimonious, self-righteous pseudo-moralistic members of the press from piling on over an issue for which they feel safe in piling on.

Here is what we and self-serving sports writers like Andy Staples for Sports Illustrated, Bob Ford, and others know. We and they know we don't have all the facts but that the prosecutors and grand jury do. We and they know that the grand jury, the body who does have all the facts, handed down indictments, one involving the abuser and two involving two Penn State officials who were charged with perjury for covering up one of the incidents and were indicted for failure to report sexual abuse. After hearing all the evidence including testimony by Joe Paterno, the grand jury did not indict Joe Paterno for anything.

Based on all the facts at the grand jury's disposal Paterno did nothing wrong. And the Pennsylvania State Attorney General said as much as well.

But if you want to pretend youre a moral hero, if you are self-serving and sanctimonious and looking to beat your chest about something, that isnt good enough. That also wont sell newspapers, get TV ratings, or get website hits the way going after a figure like Joe Paterno would. And the justification by these factually challenged journalists who are trying to do something journalists have proved they are incapable of doing in the first place -- think -- is that while Paterno did nothing criminally wrong he was morally wrong in not reporting what he heard to the police.

The problem with that is the need to answer the question, "heard what"?

Perhaps these journalists are not aware that it is in fact a crime -- a felony -- to know about child abuse and not report it. We have seen that repeatedly with the serial and institutional child sexual abuse in the Catholic church. We know that those in the hierarchy of the church who knew about the abuse by priests and did nothing are being held accountable.

The grand jury, the only body in possession of all the facts ( and the indictment is NOT all the facts - only evidence and testimony given to the grand jury contains all the facts and that is secret) decided that Paterno is blameless and committed no crime. At the same time the grand jury indicted two Penn State officials for not doing what the sanctimonious is saying Joe Paterno also didnt do but should have -- report abuse. So with no facts to support it a group of self appointed self-rightous journalists posing as moralists are calling for Paterno to be fired.

According to them Paterno should be fired for not doing what the grand jury held Paterno blameless for not doing -- going to the police with nothing.

The incident in question was witnessed by an assistant coach who actually saw the abuse take place. This coach - an eyewitness -- did NOT go to the police with what he saw but the press is giving him a pass anyway. Why? Because he is not a big fish. Because he is not going to embellish anyone's reputation. Because pointing the finger at him is not going allow sanctimonious journalists to stick out their chests the way the morally sanctimonious always do. Going after the person who actually the saw the abuse and did nothing but who is a lowly assistant coach wouldn't put a feather in the cap of those like Andy Staples, Bob Ford, or the editorial writers of the Philadelphia Daily News. Going after the witness who did nothing doesnt allow them to strut their "moral superiority" but going after Paterno gives them the opportunity to say, "look ma, I'm a hero".

So they go after Paterno, who according to his testimony and public statement had no details or specifics of what this coach saw because the coach never told him. This is an excerpt from Paterno's statement:
" He ( McCreary, the eyewitness) at no time related to me the very specific actions contained in the grand jury report:".

The grand jury investigation which included calling McCreary as a witness as well as Paterno and the two Penn State officials eventually indicted, concluded Paterno's statement was the truth and that Paterno fullfilled all his obligations in reporting what he knew to the Penn State Athletic Director and not the police.

But that still isn't enough for the railroading press. According to them Paterno should have gone to the police anyway. But they never say with what. An incident he didn't see and for which he had no details or specifics? What exactly was he supposed to say to the police? The sanctimonious in the press calling for Paterno's dismissal never say.

The mother of the boy who was sexually abused by Sandusky issued a public statement yesterday. In it she said that Sandusky in 1998 "admitted to my face - he admitted it", that he had sexually abused her son. She said in the same statement that Sandusky admitted the abuse to her again in 2002. What did the mother do? Nothing. Did she go to the police with this specific admission? No. But Paterno was supposed to with none of the facts the mother had.

So we have an assistant coach who actually witnessed the incident but didn't report it to the police and the mother of the victim who was told twice over a 4 year span by the abuser himself that he had abused her son and neither went to the police. But Paterno, who didn't have a fraction of the information those two had, and didnt have a fraction of the moral responsibility of the boy's own mother,was supposed to do more than the boy's own mother did. And should be fired for not doing so.

McCreary and the boy's mother are clearly the ones who should have gone to the police but they are given a pass by the press because there is no money or moral superiority to be had by going after them. But going after Paterno who didn't know a thing about any specific act of abuse, well, that's a gold mine.

The justification being used for attacking Paterno is that while he may have done nothing wrong criminally he was morally wrong in not reporting it to the police. Again, these factually challenged journalists are oblivious to the fact that what they say is morally wrong -- not reporting it to the police -- is also criminally wrong. To restate the facts, not reporting child abuse is a felony. The fact that the grand jury didnt indict Paterno for not reporting abuse to police while indicting two Penn State officials for that very thing, is proof that those in possession of all the facts decided that there was nothing Paterno should have done that he didnt do.

With the press when it comes to controversy its always about cowardice and what they think they can get away with to sell newspapers, get ratings or website hits as long as they feel safe against retribution. They had nothing to say about irrefutable evidence that Bush lied the country into war but they got real tough with Anthony Weiner over a picture of his underwear. They put Joe Paterno's picture on the front page of the Philadephia Daily News with the word "Shame" in huge type but never a picture of the present Pope with the same word after we learned that the present Pope had known about the Wisconsin priest who sexually abused over 400 deaf children over 20 years and did nothing.

Sandusky no doubt will get what's coming to him if he is guilty. Its too bad the same cant be said about journalists like Andy Staples, Bob Ford and the rest of the press especially those at ESPN who threw due process, common sense, facts and journalistic integrity out the window for their own self-serving reasons. But one can always hope.

NOTE: This morning on ESPN, Karl Ravich an ESPN anchor made an inadvertent but stunning admisson that bears out the premise of this peice. Ravich pointed out that all of the media attention is being focused on Joe Paterno, and almost forgotten is Jerry Sandusky, the person actually indicted for engaging in the sexual abuse. Ravich made the point that while Sandusky will eventually have his day in court, for now they can't advance the story using Sandusky so all the attention is being focused on Joe Paterno. Obviously to, as Ravich said, advance the story.And milk it. At Joe Paterno's expense. And their own self-aggrandizement.

According to the grand jury, Paterno testified that the graduate assistant reported seeing Sandusky "fondling or doing something of a sexual nature to a young boy." Those are the exact words from the presentment, but they are not an exact quote from Paterno. Grand jurors clearly came away thinking Paterno -- a man not known for mincing words -- had heard a report of sexual activity between a grown man and a young boy.

Several of the mothers in these cases DID go to the police. It was too easy to write them off because the whole point in Sandusky's charity was to 'help' kids from difficult family backgrounds (i.e. the mothers, compared to Sandusky, were not considered credible).

What in the hell is wrong with you, you homer? Stunning, I know, but not everyone who talks or writes for a living attacks every subject with the thought "I need to sell here!" Sometimes, you pick up the microphone or bang on the keys because, dammit, something needs to happen.

Joe Paterno knew a ten year old boy was in the shower - HIS showers, in HIS field house - with someone who had unquestioned access to that field house and to the program.

Sure, he legally met his obligations to inform his superiors that something was happening.

But if you're the type of person who feels like Joe Pa did enough, honestly - I feel like I need to lysol my keyboard for responding to you and my screen for showing your worthless blog.

Joe paterno told the athletic director and the head of campus police. He had no knowledge of any of the other alleged accusations...only the one that the assistant coach told him about. He did what he was supposed to...the rest was up to the athletic director and campus police...and I hardly believe that if someone told you that one of your best,oldest,and most trusted friends was sexually abusing children that you would believe it or at least confront them and then forget about it when they said no... almost all of your comments are stupid and ignorant not to mention filled with the sense of false morality the author was talking about

Society, and especially college sports, is a cesspool and Paterno is a prime example of that. How can someone show up to practice for all these years, acting normal and preaching "penn st. values," knowing all along what had happened and what he didn't do? Even last week getting his idiotic placque. Even now, with those idiots gathering on his lawn. Disgusting. I wish him a painful death.

well said!! thank you for this commentary. as an attorney who uses common sense to apply facts to the law, i wholly agree with you. people are jumping to conclusions and the media is using this as an excuse to sensationalize. i have lost respect for so many self-righteous people in the past few days. it all truly sickens me.

i honestly think that the media and government are attempting to force morality on citizens. laws are laws---and they define an acceptable standard of conduct. paterno met that standard by reporting up the chain of command. frankly, if i had been in the same situation i would have done the same thing, had i not personally viewed the alleged assault. as for not taking further steps, well, that is between paterno and his god. that is what big government does not truly understand. this is not a theocracy. what is next? a bevy of good Samaritan laws?? in a less serious scenario: will i be charged with negligence in the future if i choose to not help an elderly woman across the street and, as a result, she falls and is hit by a car? one thing leads to another... this entire event has much broader implications than anyone imagines. as long as you follow the requirements law, any action beyond that is YOUR CHOICE. free will. it is part of the beauty of being an american.

"Grand jurors clearly came away thinking Paterno -- a man not known for mincing words -- had heard a report of sexual activity between a grown man and a young boy."

I dont know that they came away thinking what you say they did and I would have liked to know what Paterno's actual testimony was. I say this because it is a felony to know about child sexual abuse and not report it to the police. If it was as explicit as you say why wasnt Paterno indicted?

The university has muzzled him for now but eventually Paterno will have his press conference because he wants to talk and then Im sure he will say exactly what McCreary told him and then and only then we will know for sure.

But the mother of the boy at the heart of the Penn State scandal didnt go to the police yet she issued a statement just yesterday saying Sandusky admitted to her in 1998 and again in 2002 that he had molested her son. If this is true she is guilty of a felony for not reporting it to the police and the media is ignoring this too.

"How can someone show up to practice for all these years, acting normal and preaching "penn st. values," knowing all along what had happened and what he didn't do?"

This is exactly the kind of sanctimonious ignorance that pervades the entire espisode. Why dont you present your facts that back up that he knew all along what had happened when he himself says he didnt? Dont present your opinion give the facts, the evidence that you base your opinion on and maybe you'll change some minds. Or maybe you'll find out something about yourself.

The only thing I would like to mention is that the mother in the 1998 case DID go to the police and had cops in the room at the time that Sandusky admitted to her what he did. It was the District Attorney who decided not to press charges.

"...people are jumping to conclusions and the media is using this as an excuse to sensationalize."

Unfortunately this is true and takes a terrible incident and in a way trivializes it and makes it take a back to seat to Paterno. You cant help but notice that the mother who said she knew about the molestation in 1998 but did nothing and did not report it to the police is given a pass by the news media even though her silence was itself a felony and allowed Sandusky to continue as a predator. As a friend of mine said, its because the mother doesnt have a reputation worth destroying and Paterno does.

First of all, his name is McQueary. Secondly, the mother did report it to the police in 1998 and the DA, Ray Gricar (who has since mysteriously disappeared) chose NOT to prosecute even after Sandusky admitted to the mother what he did, with police listening from another room.

I believe Joe Paterno did what he was suppose to do and the media are looking at the wrong person the graduate assistant is the one who saw it and he was the one who should have reported it. Joe saw nothing but everyone wants to crucify a man who does so much good for PSU. Sandusky is the problem and that should be who's name and charcter should be pasted all over TV and NEWS articles

Its amazing how the media portrayed Coach Paterno. How easily things were swayed. Please don't forget that the only person that knows what went on is Mike Mcquery, Jerry Sandusky, and the victim. Coach Paterno only had second hand information.

Additionally, do not forget the other staff members from previous years that did not report it to superiors. Those janitors had the same responsibilities then, but you aren't hearing about them because they aren't a "big fish."

And for history's sake, you should think about the District Attorney from Centre County that had the Sandusky case pass his desk several times over FIVE YEARS AGO!!! Why wasn't he prosecuted then? Clearly, the police had investigated if there was a case brought up.

Its not Coach Paterno's fault like the media is making it seem. And that's the same conclusion that the Grand Jury came to.

The Joe Paterno lynching is pathetic. He reported it to the campus police and the athletic directer. He did not see the act. He did not cover anything up. Talk is cheap all you morons who are beating on this fine man. I hope the students take appropriate action and keep going with it.

This saddens me so deeply to watch the death of a wonderful man at the hands of a media looking for notoriaty. I have to agreer with the article. The Athletic Director should be the one that is being attacked along with the mother. She is a poor excuse for a parent and is probably now looking for a big payout. What happened is beyond horrible but we need to focus on the crime and the people who committed the crime. God Bless You Coach and you have my sympathy for the lack of integrity at your school and with the media. Go in class as you have always done.

What a freaking idiot. The Mother did go to the police fool. Even with Sandusky admitting it while police were listening the DA decided not to charge him.

You people have to be the sickest group of people I have ever seen in my life. Joe Pa knew alot more about Sandusky and that will come out. Not once have you people or your university come out and apologized to the victims nor taken one step to help them. All that matters to you is your football team and Joe Pa.

Tell us how you know this, who your source is, and tell us what you know Paterno knew that will come out. Give us the details. Everyone has an open mind and will listen to facts. But if you cant do it then youre just one more member of the mindless mob and who the fool is will be obvious.

This is a stick your head in the sand homer piece if I've ever read one.

Paterno himself said he didn't do enough.

Any time a child is raped in a shower, the act is witnessed first-hand and no REAL police are called, more than just JoePa didn't do enough.

What's been done is right but I'll say this - if McQueary is on the sideline on Saturday, you'll know where Penn State's real priorities lie....and that'll be putting football above the abuse of a child. He's more complicit in his inaction that JoePa by a light year.

This is quite possibly the biggest piece of hogwash ever written. Mr. Writer, I don't know you...but I know that the rest of the SANE world sees an implicit neglect on Paterno's part for knowing that a 10 YEAR OLD BOY was in a shower with an OLD MAN! The anal raping is a terrible detail, but that is not the crux of the issue. This should have been reported to police IMMEDIATELY based on this equation: Old Man + Boy = Shower. You're blinded by your coke bottle glasses, just like Paterno. What a hack.

Mr.Paterno reported hear say to his chain of command. Because of media outcry the public demanded Mr. Paterno's head. Well now they have it. Just hope Penn St. doesn't end up like Kent St. THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING!!! THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING!!!

Joe Pa is Penn State. Joe Pa had the power to stop his friend of 30+ years from raping (oh, sorry, Joe, "fondling") little boys. He did not exercise that power. He chose to protect his precious image and football program.

I believe that Paterno was not charged with failure to report, either because he was not technically "an educator" and thus under no duty to report or because the statute of limitations had run. As for perjury, there was insufficient evidence. However, any person who cares one whit about children would have done more than simply report what he classified as vague allegations to the person ostensibly above him in the chain of command.

The man is a rank hypocrite. It is completely reasonable to assume Paterno knew what was going on back in the late 1990s when another "incident" occurred and Sandusky quietly retired. Willful ignorance is the same as knowing.

That said, the grad student (who got a nice job out of the whole thing), the assistants, the president - all behaved heinously. But it was Paterno who had the power.

Yesterday he tried to exercise that power by ordering the Board (most members of whom are his appointees) to accept that he would continue "coaching" (he hasn't really coached in years) until the end of the season. If he had one ounce of concern for the boys and their families, he would not have wanted to appear at the game and receive massive cheering and adulation. How hurtful and shameful. But Joe Pa cares only for himself. He is the sanctimonious one.

Excellent article. You completely nailed this. It is truly terrifying how the media can destroy a reputation based on 50 years of demonstrated service in a matter of days. If Paterno was the secret monster he is made out to be, he surely would have been indicted like the others. This shows there is nothing more fickle and worthless than the approval of the crowd.

From an eternal lurker that played college ball, pro ball (semi) and is a nationally certified coach, THANK YOU FOR THIS POST. 61 years as a coach at a major D1 school with no violations, one of the highest graduation rates in the country REGULARLY, bringing down the highest profile person in this ordeal seems to be the word of the day. Kudos on a great post!

You ignoramuses again are saying that Paterno "knew". If Paterno "knew" he would have reported it. The issue is how much he knew. You say, "He knew a coach and a ten year old boy were in the shower". OK. SO does that mean he is raping the boy? Really? How many normal, non-criminal acts occur in showers between people of differing ages? Thousands. I remember taking swimming lessons at the YMCA when I was a kid and showering in a locker room with other men of all ages, because, THATS NORMAL. Normally, kids don't get abused like that. So don't give me the bullcrap "They were in the shower, that's all he needed to report!". Umm. No. Consider the situation if the report is false, which was the more likely case consider what happens normally in locker rooms. Joe looks like a fool, slanders his fellow coach, loses the trust of his staff, and costs the University millions in damages. You people are so narrow-minded and idiotic.

Mr Sandusky was no longer part of the football program. It has nothing to do with the football team. The only connection to football is the building and the witness. If Sandusky used the baseball building would Joe Paterno have gotten the same treatment? Idiotic thinking would say the baseball program would be the focus and the baseball coach fired. That's why everyone that says JoePa deserves this is an IDIOT.

"This is a stick your head in the sand homer piece if I've ever read one. "

Are you sure its not your head stuck in the sand? At least that would explain why you cant read. Paterno never said he didnt do enough. All you did was parrot the news media twisting of his words so you are as guilty as they are of not knowing what you are talking about.

Paterno said "with the benefit of hindsight ( as in if he knew then what he knows now) I wish I had done more".

And who wouldnt? Who wouldnt say that if they knew then what they know now they wouldnt have made another decision? That is light years away from saying or "admitting" as some journalists had falsely characterized it, as not doing enough.Beyond that you are like all the others. You wouldnt be willing to bet one weeks pay that you know for sure what Paterno was told because so far no one knows for sure. But youre ready to get up on your soap box and pontificate. Just like the other moral midgets with the mob mentality who know what you know -- nothing.

The only thing I would like to mention is that the mother in the 1998 case DID go to the police and had cops in the room at the time that Sandusky admitted to her what he did. It was the District Attorney who decided not to press charges"

"I don't know you...but I know that the rest of the SANE world sees an implicit neglect on Paterno's part "

If your idea of the rest of the SANE world is limited to the incompetents in the news media who is obviously your only source of information, hopefully there arent too many like you when it comes to the next presidential election.

So we've established that the boy's mother DID report the incident to the police and the police were present when Sandusky admitted abuse to her. We've established that the case was on the DA's desk several times, yet nothing happened. So why is JoePa being attacked for not going to the police when 1. He did report things to higher officials and 2. The authorities were aware by other resources and apparently present when Sandusky admitted to the crime AND yet did nothing.

Also, what makes McQueary any less liable than JoePa? He witnessed it. Why is he now taking Joe's position as coach this week? Is he not equally as responsible?

I think it is horrible that this has happened to these young boys. I'm sure all parties involved were put in a very difficult situation which I'm sure is even more difficult when you are learning of the incident second hand. Hindsight always reveals more information. And it has to be remembered that until Sandusky was proven guilty, the parties that learned this secondhand information had to act on it as just that secondhand information.

For those that are trying to state that JoePa was involved in a coverup for the sake of football or the university reputation, I think you should look at his history. He benched players for poor academics or when they got into trouble DESPITE the effect it might have on the upcoming game. I am having a hard time believing that JoePa who has placed such an emphasis on morals and character would knowingly not do his part in such an incident.

He did not say that so end of YOUR story. Once again you like some others else are paraphrasing the inaccurate characterization by the news media of what Paterno said. He said in hindight ( meaning if he knew then what he knows now) he wishes he had done more NOT that he didnt do enough.

And ask yourself this question. If the AD Paterno had reported it to had called the police and Sandusky had been arrested would anyone even be talking about this? No. So Paterno is paying the price not for what HE didnt do but for what the AD didnt do. And by the way, the AD was indicted, not Paterno.

Thank you for a good article. Please bring up the fact that during this incident, Joe was also very concerned about his dying brother, George. He may not have constantly called to follow up because he was at the bedside of his beloved brother.

Thank you for a good article. Please bring up the fact that during this incident, Joe was also very concerned about his dying brother, George. He may not have constantly called to follow up because he was at the bedside of his beloved brother.

I guess Paterno was just following orders and not taking responsibility for doing the right thing and going to authorities. Wonder what he would have done if he knew he was not invincible in his own mind

MarcYour splitting hairs. We could debate and you wont change my opinion and I have no desire to change yours politically. Let the story stand as written. Political comparisons are not needed (in my opinion).

How do we know Paterno never asked a follow up question of anyone to whom he reported (who I'm sure would have been quite honest as they're subsequently indicted for lying BTW)?? Oh, that's right. we don't know. But we'll get our torches & pitchforks ready nonetheless.

To all who claim he knew a child was showering with Sandusky and turned a blind eye, if you read the report you will see these were shower stalls, not your typical football shower. We don't know yet what he was told. He might have not realized if they were in the same stall.

I'm still wondering why everywhere I turn, everyone is saying "Joe should've/could've....to stop abuse." Why in the world are we not asking the question "If McQueary would've..." OR better yet ask the man actually responsible for these alleged acts "WHY?"? Seriously, let's talk about moral values (since the words have been thrown around so freely lately like we are a country full of them) and ask Jerry Sandusky to accept responsibility for his alleged actions. I realize it's much easier to point the finger of blame to others but the fact of the matter is that even if Joe Paterno would've gone to the police, the information he had to offer is considered heresay and the actual witness or victim would have to be the ones to provide their statements. And one more point (since we are all being upstanding citizens here): instead of sitting on your asses, pointing the finger of blame and doing nothing about child abuse that surrounds you in your own communities- take your anger and frustration and foster a child, become an advocate, write a letter to your congressmen and help defend child abuse victims. We all can do more- so if you're going to use JoePa as a scapegoat- take a long hard look in the mirror and ask what else you can be doing too!

I completely agree with your post .. nice to read from someone who uses facts and logic, rather than just an emotional response.

Joe Paterno spent 50+ years helping kids, especially those with tough backgrounds, and supporting charities, so it is illogical to me that he could have really known about sex abuse and let it go. I have read in media outlets various different accounts of what Paterno testisfied, so perhaps I don't really know the facts. But, I believe that the general public does not yet know the pure truth. One article quotes JoePa as saying he only knew that inappropriate activity occurred and was not aware that it was of a sexual nature. I can envision a scenario in which McQueary feels awkward telling iconic tough old school Italian, "I just saw Sandusky having anal sex with a little boy".... so he instead says, "I think I saw something odd / inappropriate going on - with Coach Sandusky and some kid.......". So maybe JoePa didn't actually know of the abuse... so he appropriately goes to the AD, and sees nothing happen, so he figures that there was nothing to it. This is why he now can say, "I wish I did more".

Moreover, the Board of Trustees have been trying to figure out a way to get rid of Paterno, since he is such an icon there, he had a lifetime right to coach -- but he wasn't willing to step down despite the decline of the success of the program - so they took advantage of this scandal and booted him as soon as they could. This has added to the scapegoating. I agree that he should be let go, since he was part of the leadership during a hideous event -- but I do think there should be more information to justify the firing.

To all of the people who want to accuse Joe Paterno of wrongdoing, at least make an effort to get your facts straight. According to the Grand Jury report, Paterno arranged for a meeting between Mike McQueary (who reported the Sandusky shower incident to him, or at least some version of it) and Tim Curley and Bill Schultz right after Paterno learned of it. This is not as simple as just reporting it to his boss, because Bill Schultz was also the head of the Penn State police department. And no, those police are NOT rent-a-cops, they are real officers as anyone who went to a major state college would know. So he sets up a meeting between McQueary and the head of Penn State police, and everybody dumps on Paterno? What else could he have done? We don't know that he didn't follow up, that wouldn't be in the Grand Jury report. If someone told all of you that a crime had occurred, and you happened to know the chief of police in your town, wouldn't you setting up a meeting between the chief of police and the person who reported the crime to you be doing enough? How is it Paterno's fault that Sandusky wasn't arrested then?

The Centre County DA dropped the case, the Attorney General did nothing, so what was the next step supposed to be? If it got that far, the police had to have some idea of what was going on...So the Board in its infinite wisdom fire the most high-profile person they could to make it look like they were doing something about the scandal. Now they want to honor the man that they railroaded? Give me a break! Everyone dropped the ball on this.

Wow, I just found this blog! One detail you never hear, from my reading about D.A. Ray Gricar is that in 1998, when the first abused boy came forth (but possibly victim #6), a child psychologist diagnosed the boy as "not abused". I believe that set the tone for Paterno and others to stay away from this hot potato. Someone should bring out this psychologist's diagnosis because it was influential.